If you're feeling a bit lost in the maze of website design, you're in the right place. We know there are a lot of options out there, and picking the best web designer can feel like finding a needle in a haystack.
I reached out to one of the web designers I love working with - Sara-Jane Austen of Designerbloom Ltd. Sara-Jane has over 20 years of experience in the professional design industry and is an experienced Rocketspark Website Designer (and winner of several Rocketspark Partner Website of the Month awards).
Sara-Jane has some great tips to share.
She's got five big questions you should ask when you're looking for someone to help create your website.
Whether you're looking for an expert to create a new website or make your old one even better, here’s what to ask to make sure you find the right fit for your project.
Sara-Jane top 5 questions to ask when hiring a website designer
Question 1: Can you provide examples of websites you have designed in the past?
This question allows you to assess the web designer's portfolio and evaluate their design style, creativity, and technical skills.
Looking at their previous work will give you a sense of their capabilities and whether their design aesthetic aligns with your vision for your website.
Consequently, you avoid the problem of hiring a designer whose style does not align with your vision.
This helps prevent dissatisfaction or a mismatch in expectations due to a lack of understanding of the designer's abilities and helps you bypass potential future redesigns or corrections due to the initial incorrect selection of the web designer.
Question 2: What is your process for gathering requirements and understanding a client's needs?
Clear communication and understanding between you and your web designer are crucial for a successful project.
A web designer should have a well-defined process for gathering requirements and comprehending your specific goals and preferences. (Make sure you ask if you need to provide the copy, photography and brand element, including logo, fonts, and colours.
Asking about their approach to understanding client needs will give you insights into their ability to listen, ask relevant questions, and translate your vision into a functional website.
Question 3: How do you handle ongoing maintenance and updates for websites?
Websites can require regular maintenance, updates, and occasional bug fixes.
Knowing how a web designer handles these aspects after the initial design is complete is important.
Ask about their post-launch support and maintenance services, whether they offer website updates or training, and if any ongoing costs or packages are available.
This will help you evaluate their commitment to long-term customer satisfaction and the level of support you can expect beyond the initial design phase.
Question 4: What is your approach to responsive design?
Responsive design means your website looks and functions well on different devices and screen sizes.
A good web designer should be knowledgeable about responsive design techniques and understand how to create a website that adapts seamlessly across various platforms.
Their answer will help you gauge their expertise in this crucial aspect of modern web design.
Question 5: How do you optimise websites for search engines (SEO)?
SEO is essential for improving your website's visibility in search engine rankings.
A skilled web designer should have a basic understanding of SEO principles and be able to implement on-page optimisation techniques.
Inquiring about their SEO knowledge and strategies will help ensure your website is set up for success.
Lastly, it's important to ask what platform the web designer uses.
Many options are available, so choosing a designer who uses a platform that suits your requirements is essential.
I use the Rocketspark Web Builder Platform for creating websites for my clients as they handle all of the ongoing maintenance and support for you, the customer, at no extra charge.
All hosting payments are made directly to Rocketspark, and you will have a full support team on your side. Once your website is designed and launched, you will have access to your website to easily update it as you wish, whenever you wish. I also offer full support and ongoing updates if this is your preferred option.
To all the small business owners out there, armed with these questions and the insights provided, you are now better prepared to embark on your journey of finding the perfect web designer.
Here's to creating websites that don't just look good, but are designed to perform and stand out in the bustling online marketplace.